Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-08
Chastanooga,s Great Room.


creature, when she tainted.
ChattanOoga,s Great Boom.
CHATTANOOGA, March s.-The county register has
issued bulletin OF the real estate transactions In
the city ana county for January and February,
showing the number OF deeds recorded during the
two months TO be Z. 600 and aggregating 81 3la6}S
prooapiy tne largest amount oil bona hoe RAJ
estate business ever done I'm any city In the south
The TtltOn- asecClaer Trial.
From the n. Y. Tribune.
In 1851 bright, young stenographer, only six
teen years OF age, Theodore Tilton by NAME came
into Plymouth church 10 take down Mr.. Beecher's
sermons for publications. practice which was
then novelty. He was engaged by Henry q.
Bowen, one OF the founders OF the church upon the
Independent, OF which journal Mr. Bowen was a
proprietor, and I'm Is6l he succeeded Mr. Reechpr
as editor-in-chief OF the paper. He developed
considerable power as a writer and speaker,
especially in the anti-slavery contest, and
Beecher who regarded him some OF my boys"
Toward 1870 some difference arose between Mr.
and Mr. Beecher deanwhile Mr. miton's DENIES,
Tie lille was not happy one. In December, ls1O
MIS- 11lton left her husbands house and sought
her mothers protection. Mr.. Besrher was con-
suited, and finally counseled separation and the
rupture between Ttlton and MIR. Beccher was COIN
pete. Mr.. Tflton obtained Possession OF his Infant
child in It's mothers absence, and then the
mother returned TO him. At this time Mr..
Triton had retired from the editorship OF The
Independent TO which, however, he still con-
tlnued TO contribute, and was editor-in-chief OF
the Brooklyn Union, OF which Mr.. Bowen was one
or the propnetors To Mr. Bowen came stories
preludicial 10 Tilton's moral character and he
medltated dismissing him. An interview was held
conversation passed from the immediate topic to
the necessity OF frequent notices OF Plymouth
church and It's pastor In the Brooklyn Cnion. Til
ton objected and charged Mr. Beecher with 'dishon-
orabe conduct toward his wife, Bringing pen and
paper, Mr.. Bowen invited Triton To write letter
demanding that Mr.. Beecher resign from ply
ha krsSf
Union T1lton did so. Mr.. Bowen took the
letter 10 Mr.. Beecher who read IL and said: "This
ward Iflton was dismissed from both the positions
which he held IL was now necessary for him TO
submit evidence against Mr. Beecher or to confess
himself slanderer. lie sought this from his wife.
As 10 what the precise confession then obtained
from her was the testimony confiicted.
The letter was TWO years afterward DESTROYED
The progress OF events was not rapid MIS- Triton
retracted In Mr.. Beechers presence every accusa-
ton made against him: Francis ID. Moulton ap-
pearing as the mutual fr1end;" Mr. Beecher
made tumultuous expression OF grief and shame,
OF which MT. Mouitoh took down statement;
Mr.. T1lton and Mr.. Beecher met and n reconcilia-
ton was effected. new paper called The Golden
Age was started with Triton at its head for which
urpose MI. Beecher and friends OF Mr.. Moulton
contributed sums or money. On April . ls7e the
"trpartite covenant" between Beccher, Bowen and
al,oa was signed promising silence as TO the past
began TO be heard. Triton aided their distribu-
ton, Mr.: Beecher's friends became uneasy and In
1873 he broke silence with a card OF denial. TIL
ton was charged In the church with being
a slanderer Of his pastor and his maine
was stricken from The rolls But more
called, noininaly I'm regard To the irreguartty of
this proceeding, Sealy TO make some attempt at
an investigation. Its work amounted TO nothing,
except 10 deepen the uneasy feeling that some
great scandal was about to be brought TO light
Then T ,a,a.. to clear himself published the
preceding the trial. In which he quoted from
Mr.. Beechers alleged confession Of January
1, 1871. Mr. Beecher at once took action and de-
manded an investigation, which six well-known
members OF Plymouth church were appointed 10
conduct Another effort 10 compromise the matter
was made I'm vain, and at last in August, 1874
four years and more after the wrong Was charged
To have been committed, Tilton brought his suit.
The charge or adultery was first publicly pre-
ferTed In July, 1874, ana the complaint served In
August when issue was Immediately Joined. The
TRIAL was begun In January, ls75. SUBJECTS were
dealt with extending over five or six years
About two hundred and ffJy documents were
introduced and anayZed. More than one hum
dred different interviews were examined into and
in respect 10 many OF them the sworn testimony
OF witnesses was In irreconciliable Disagreement
Printed In small type, the Testimony that
published filled 1900 foolscap pages, and the
port OF the proceedings would MI four i've large
legal volumes over lJ0 distinct rulings points
OF law were made by the judge, which were noted
by the defendants counsel, and nearly many
questions were raised and decided during the de-
PENDANTS presentation OF his case.
Judge Nelson sat upon the bench. The most
eminent counsel were employed on either side.
learning and active mind; MI. Fullerton, master
OF the art OF crosS-Quest1Oning, and Mr.. Beach, 4
sharp, p1tny anu 1oftlDft speaker.
MI. Beecher was represented by Mr.. EvartS who
gained new laurels as an advocate before IA jury;
Austin Abbott, distinguished for his legal learning
and the publications bearing his name, whose lore
sight and system were apparent In the preSenta-
ton OF the defendants case; Mr.. Porter, quick 10
see and decide upon knOtty points, and MI. Tracy,
effective orator. The positions OF the persons
interested, the differing characteristics OF the
mult1tudinous witnesses, the crowds or prOIni-
nent men from all parts OF the country who packed
the courtroom daily, and the wholesale publicity
given by the press all cOnspired 10 make this trial
a striking and unprecedented event. From Janu-
airy until June the lawyers struggled and curious
public gOated over the daily details 0f the great
scandal. Then came the summing up on each side
and the Judges charge The deliberations OF the
jury continued for eight days. F1fty-two ballots
were taken, the first and last being nine for Mr..
Beecher and three for lton. on one ballot the jury
stood eleven TO one and on another seven 10 i've
I'm favor Of Mr.. Beecher. After the close or this
trial the matter taken up by the grand jury,
which called MI. Beecher as q witness and found
an indictment against Francis ID. MoultOn for libel
The district attorney however, never brought the
case TO trial, and AFTER he had officially Indicated
this decision 10y entering nolle proseQui, Mouton
brought suit against MI. Beecher for malicious
prosecution Mr.. Beechers counsel defending him
vigorously and Moulton abandoned his suit.
Another confession was claimed 10 have been made
by Mrs. Triton after the trial which WAS met by
Mr. Beecher with an explicit denial. A great &c
cesiastical council was held, which exhonorated
Mr. Reecher.